A very personal view of lymphedema complete with strategies to meet the challenges involved.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Chapter 16 - Bandaging and Other Particulars

Bandaging and Other Particulars

The initial
management of my swollen limb involved compression in the form of
bandaging.This was to decrease the
amount of swelling at a time when it is treatable.Compression bandaging is often the first mode
of active treatment.

Bandaging is
significantly more complicated than a garment.Layers of gauze, foam and overlapping lengths of stretch bandages are
arranged to ‘push’ the fluids of the limb’s lymphatic system in an upward
fashion to the lymph nodes.The tightness
has to be graduated – so that there is no restrictions and fluid
gathering.The smoothness matters as
well, because any deviance can create pressure pain.

My bandaging
period lasted four months during which time I was actively losing weight,
getting my blood pressure under control and adjusting to my modified life.My spouse learnt the methods of bandaging and
so we were able to treat my arm in a consistent and effective manner.Once a day, every day we unwrapped and
reapplied the treatment bandages, following the pages of instructions to do
so.Then I wore that for the next 23.5
hours.We got good at it, but I was
grateful beyond belief when I didn’t need to bandage any longer.(I do keep all supplies on hand, as quick
response treatment, and have used the full kit during a flare up caused by air
travel.)

Without someone
to be my bandager, my other alternative would have been to endure five hour
round trips to the physio department.That much travel time with the factors of heat, seat belt restrictions and
general immobility would have been problematic for my lymphedema.Or I could have learnt to bandage myself, but
that certainly isn’t factoring in my pain level and mobility issues at the
time.

I know people who
bandage for sleeping, then use a custom sized and heavier tension garment for
day wear.That is normal for them.There are air-assisted lymphatic pressure
units that are a vital tool to help some lymphedema patients manage their
condition.And some people have to
receive lymphatic massage treatments regularly.

I’ve talked
about being a newly diagnosed lymphedema patient with a one in a thousand level
of pain.I believed that would be my
normal status, but it was not.However,
I thought I should share what my lymphedema feels like now.First off, there is always something going on
with my arm.A tingle, or an ache or a
ripple sensation or something.Where?You might ask.This is totally random as well; first it will
be located in my hand or my armpit or almost all of my upper arm and into my
shoulder and neck region.It’s quite
interesting, if I care to look at it that way, but it can disturb my sleep and
tires me emotionally as well.

Pain is designed
to make your mind pay attention to your body’s needs.It’s a real challenge to know what my body is
saying.Have I strained muscles or is
this the lymphedema?Am I retaining more
fluid or do I need to stretch more?

I have learned
that my lymphatic self-massage will fire up the sensations, so now I do that
first thing in the morning, rather than just before bed.I need to do my stretches daily, or my sleep
will be disturbed by tension in the armpit and shoulder region.This is a moving target, but I aim to do my
best.The sensations are what they are,
but they definitely remind me to keep my routine.

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The muse is directing me to finish the novel I started this winter. I, as always, will update I-Write with writing news. Liz’s Lymphedema Logbook is a blogged book that will remain online to be a resource for lymphedema warriors. Sixty-Plus is on hiatus at the present moment.